A HISTORICAL weathervane and cresting at a former hotel has been relocated.

Steve Ratcliffe, director of Coastal and Country Developments, has lodged a formal application to Conwy County Borough Council to remove the cast iron cresting and weathervane from the tower at Deganwy Castle Hotel.

But the weathervane and cresting have in fact already been re-positioned and are now located within the grounds alongside access to the car park. 

The application states that the cast iron weathervane had to be replaced due to "excessive decay" and a replica was produce under the guidance of Conwy planning, Peter Wood, Gareth Roberts and Dave Watson.

The document adds: "The new design was agreed via emails and the replica installed within the grounds of the Deganwy Castle Hotel. The variation from cast iron to steel was deemed too great to agree via email and Dave Watson asked for a formal application to be submitted. The new design needs to be agreed.

"There is no requirement to alter the condition, just to agree the new design in relation to the previous agreed design."

The hotel closed in January 2010. Historypoints notes that in July 2012, work began on the building’s £2m conversion into apartments known as The Moorings, reverting the site to residential use.

A historical impact statement, dated December 13 2023, says: "Upon the removal of the weathervane and cresting from the tower, an assessment was conducted as to the reconditioning of each part. The weathervane itself was in reasonable condition and only needed bringing up to date The cresting on the other hand, had suffered from years of exposure to the salt, air and wind and very little maintained due to its location. The cresting once removed completely fell apart."

The cresting was beyond repair and replicated with new materials.

The statement adds: "The new cresting was seen to be different from the existing to the extent of requiring a material amendment to the existing planning approval within correspondence with Conwy Council Planning. This was agreed to be amended by email due to the material amendments not be handled by LBC's. However, on further clarification a new application was requested. 

"There is no change to the historical importance or significance of the weathervane and cresting as depicted within the original Historical Impact Statement. 

"The importance of the weathervane and cresting to the property has not been questioned and has always been maintained that both would form part of the property for years to come, albeit now residing within the grounds and not on top of the tower."

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The statement concludes: "Both the weathervane and cresting were restored and replicated as per the planning application to remove them from the tower. Both have been re-sited together for all to see. 

"This new position will secure the future for many years to come, while retaining the heritage of the property."

An application to permanently removal of the weathervane and casting, and the restoration of resitting of the weathervane in the grounds of the former hotel, was refused in January 2022. It was concluded that the removal of the weathervane and casting would result in the loss of a "significant feature" of the west tower of the listed building. 

Deganwy Castle Hotel was sold in 2011. It was on the market at a guide price of £1million.